Clothes washing machine having a dry type agitate and spinning mechanism



n 1963 B. BRUCKEN ETAL 3,091,956

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING A DRY-TYPE AGITATE AND SPINNING MECHANISMFiled Oct. 9, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Jun 4, 1963 B. L. BRUCKENETAL CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING A DRY-TYPE AGITATE AND SPINNINGMECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 9, 1961 n v mmm w WM oh w VNF.W nmBHL .A La .n s e n e h mmm T WTM iii F /'g. 2

June 4, 1963 B. 1.. BRUCKEN ETAL 3,091,956

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE HAVING A DRY-TYPE AGITATE AND SPINNING MECHANISMFiled Oct. 9, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I38 I33 I28 I32 y lze ByronL.Brucken Thomas H. Fogf James W Light Their Attorney INVENTORS UnitedStates Patent 3,091,956 CLQTHES WASIE IG h lACl-liNE HAWNG A DRY TYPEAGITATE AND SPINNING MECHANISM Byron L. Brucken, Dayton, Thomas H. Fogt,West Carrollton, and iames W. Light, Greenville, Ohio, assignors toGeneral Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of DelawareFiled Oct. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 143,756 9 Claims. (Cl. 6823) This inventionrelates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to an improveddry-type roller drive prime mover system for an agitating and spinningmechanism in a clothes washer.

A dry-type agitate and spinning mechanism for a clothes washer is setforth in copending application Serial No. 5,174, filed January 28, 1960,and assigned to the same assignee as this invention. In this copendingcase a roller drive mechanism is taught in which oil bath lubrication iseliminated and replaced with torque transmitting rollers to selectivelyrotate a spin tub or reciprocate an agitator. In such a prime moversystem, it is essential that friction and play be minimized whereverpossible to hold down noise problems and eliminate wear.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a noise-freeflexible coupling between the agitate shaft of an agitate and spinmechanism and the means for actuating said agitate shaft.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a variable grip ballsocket between the prime mover and the agitate and spin shaft whichincludes a ball pressed between a pair of bearing cups, the pressure ofwhich is automatically increased during agitate and decreased duringspin.

A more general object of this invention is the provision of a universalball-socket joint in which the ball alternately universally pivots orrotates in said socket and wherein the pressure of said socket againstsaid ball is varied in accordance with said pivoting or rotating.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pulsator arm assemblyhaving the variable grip ball socket of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the improved agitate andspin mechanism partly in elevation to show the pulsator arm in a raisedout-of-alignment condition;

FIGURE 3 is a schematic sectional view partly in elevation of a clotheswasher provided with the improved dry running type, roller motivatedagitating and spinning mechanism of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of the ball socket takengenerally along line 4-4 in FIGURE 6 illustrating increased pressure onsaid ball during agitation to minimize noise;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of the ball socket takengenerally along line 44 in FIGURE 6 illustrating decreased pressure onsaid ball during spin to reduce friction; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary top elevational View of the pulsator armassembly with parts broken away to show the variable grip ball socket.

In accordance with this invention and with reference to FIGURE 3 aclothes washer 20 is comprised of a control housing portion 22 and acasing 24. The casing 24 is generally divided into a mechanism portionor compartment 26 and a washing portion or water container chamber .28.A generally centrally located bulkhead 3t) separates the mechanismcompartment 26 from the water container chamber 28 which is furtherbounded by a cylindrical water container wall 32. Within the watercontainer 32 is a spin tub 34 having a top opening 36 and a plurality ofcentrifuging outflow ports 38. The ports 38 are designed to permit theegress of water from the tub 34 when the tub is rotated at high speed.For filling the tub 34 with water, a conventional water supply systemmay be provided with a hot water solenoid actuated valve 40' and a coldwater solenoid actuated valve 42 which are manifolded into a mixed watersupply conduit 44 terminating at a chute 46 overlying the opening 36 ofthe tub 34. Within the tub 34, an agitator or pulsator 48 is adapted toreciprocate for agitating the water admitted through the water supplyconduit 44. Thus, clothing placed within the tub 34 is washed as theagitating action of the pulsator 48 causes surging currents of washingfluid and detergent through the fabric. Conventional sequentialoperating timer means, shown generally at 50 on the control housing 22may be included to selectively admit water through the supply conduit44, to spin the tub 34 and tovertically reciprocate the agitator orpulsator 48.

In the prior art, mechanisms for selectively spinning tub 34 orreciprocating an agitator 48 were rather complex and requiredlubrication of the many parts required to set up the desired washingoperation. This invention is directed to an improved dry running rollertype agitating and spinning mechanism of the type taught more fully inthe aforementioned copending application Serial No. 5,174 and showngenerally in FIGURE 3 as 53. The mechanism 53 is suspended from astationary shaft enclosing housing portion 54 which is connected to aresilient cup-shaped support member 56. This support member 56, in turn,is affixed to an opening 5 8 in the bulkhead Tali-sealing gasket 60being provided to efiect a water-tight connection. Extend-ing upwardlyfrom the stationary enclosing housing 54 is an agitate or pulsate shaft62 to which the agitator 43 is connected and a spin shaft 64 which isconnected as by tub support nut 66 to the bottom wall 68 of the spin tub34. In order to dampen excessive gyrating or swinging movement of theagitate and spin mechanisms lower end, a snubber device shown generallyat 79, is included to receive a snuhbing stud 71. It is desirous thatwater he kept from between the agitate and spin shafts. For this purposea rubber bellows 67 has its upper end fastened to the agitate shaft 62and its lower end fastened to the tub bottom and the spin shaft by thenut 66. Additional detail in this regard may be gained from the patentto Sisson 2,758,685 issued August 14, 1956.

With reference now to FIGURES 2 and 3, the mechanism componentspertaining to agitation will be described. The mechanism 53 is providedwith a support portion or housing '76 which encloses a reversible drivemotor 78 in an upper portion thereof. A boss 8d formed on the supporthousing 76 serves to carry in press-lit relationship an elongated doubleor water pump bearing 82 which is also press-fit into a center opening84 of an agitate drum 86. A drive pinion (not shown) serves to rotatethe agitate drum -86 through an idler roller (not shown) whenever theoperational direction of motor 78 is such as to set up an agitateaction. Further, the agitate drum 86 is formed with a crank portion 88which is relatively rotatably carried at the crank end 90 of a pulsatorarm assembly shown generally at 92. Since the crank portion 88 of theagitate drum is carried in a ball bearing 94, whenever the agitate drum86 is rotated, the axis of the bearing 94 precesses about the axis 3 ofthe agitate drum bearing82 and the pulsator arm assembly wobbles androcks toreciprocate the agitateshaft.

The manner in which the prime mover system is connected for rotating thespin tu-b 34 is fully explained in the aforementioned copendingapplication. However, for the purposes of this disclosure and withreference to FIGURE 2 the spin shaft 64 is shown concentric with theagitate shaft 62. At the lower end of the spin shaft 64 is a threadedportion 96 for receiving a spin drum 98 adapted to be threadedly engagedthereon and movable between upper and lower positions. In brief, theupper position serves to actuate a brake shown generally at 1011 toarrest the rotation of the spin tub at the conclusion of a centrifugingoperation. The spin drum 98 is shown in its lower position against astop 102 keyed as by a snap ring 104 to the bottom of the spin shaft. Inthis lower position the spin drum 98 serves to rotate the spin shaft 64when the drum is rotated by an idler roller (not shown) in response tothe reverse drive of the motor 78 To translate the rotative motion ofthe agitate drum 86 into the vertical reciprocation of the agitate shaft62, a pulsator arm or rocker arm assembly 92 is utilized as set forthbriefly hereinbefore. Referring to FIGURE 1 the pulsator arm assembly isshown comprised of an upper pulsator arm 11% and a lower pulsator arm112 held together as by rivets or other suitable fastening means 114.The upper pulsator arm is formed at the crank end with a ball bearingreceiving recess 1 16 and the lower arm 112 is formed with an oppositelyrelated ball bearing receiving recess 118-the ball bearing 94 beingsandwiched and retained therebetween. At the rocking end of the upperand lower arms the spherical ball socket is positioned. Moreparticularly, the upper arm 110 is a formed with an embossment 121 whichhas an irregular shoulder 122 formed with three cam portions 124. Forcooperating with the cam shouldered embossrnent 120 an upper sphericalbearing ring 126 is adapted to fit within the underside of theembossment 120 in a manner to position mating cam surfaces 128 inrelatively rotatable relationship to the cam surfaces 124 on the camembossed shoulder above. Note in FIGURES 1 and 6 that the upper ring126- has a struck out tang 1311 which engages one terminal portion orend 132 of a bearing tension spring 134. The bearing tension spring liesadjacent the top of the upper pulsator arm 111i and has its terminalportions 132 and 133 extending through a slot 138 in the side of theembossment 129. Since the spring end 133 bears against one end of theslot 138 and the spring end 132 bears against the upper bearing tang130, the spring serves to bias the upper ring 126 counterclockwise (asseen in FIGURE 6) and relatively rotatably to the cams 124 embossed onthe upper pulsator arm. 'The cams, when slidably engaged with eachother, serve to force the upper ring socket 126 away from the upperpulsator arm or downwardly as seen in FIGURE 1. Oppositely disposed tothe upper bearing ring 126 is a lower spherical bearing ring 146 havinga socket portion 148 cradled in a fixed position on the lower pulsatorarm 112 to receive the lower half of a spherical ball 162.

Completing the connection between the pnlsator arm assembly 92 and theagitate shaft 62 is a pulsator shaft spring 152 which has a threadedportion 154 threadedly engaged in the bottom 15% of a drilled-out socket156 to secure the shaft spring 152 in a manner to permit lateraldeflection of the lower end 160 of the spring. The spherical ball 162 isfastened to the lower end 161 of the shaft steel having a Rockwellnumber C43-48. The spring is zinc plated to a .00015 minimum thicknessand has a chromate treatment, after which the spring is heat treated toremove hydrogen embrittlement. As seen in FIGURE 2, the lower end 161)of the spring 152 is deflected leftwardly when the pulsator arm assembly92 is in its uppermost position. At the center position of pulsator armthe ball 162 is axially in line with the agitate shaft 62 and nodeflection of the spring 152 will occur. Likewise at the lowermost pointof travel for the rocking end 91, the spring end 160' will also bedeflected leftwardly.

The foregoing structure is designed on one hand to operate in a mannerto load or increase pressure on the ball 162 during agitate or washaction in order to minimize mechanism noise due to play or slap in theball socket. On the other hand, when the mechanism is operated to spinthe tub, the foregoing structure is designed to relieve the pressure onthe ball 162 to reduce friction so that the spin shaft may be rotatedrelatively easily. A further advantage in reducing spin friction thuslyis reflected in a lessening of the torque between the pulsate shaft 62and the spin shaft 64 which could cause tearing of the flexible rubberbellows 67 which connects the shafts. Thus reducing friction on the ball162 will prevent tearing of the bellows.

The operation of the variable grip ball socket will best be understoodduring the agitate portion of the Wash cycle with reference to theschematic representation in FIGURE 4. Representing the action of theupper pulsator arm and the upper bearing ring 126, the cam surfaces 124and 128 on these elements are shown engaged. The bearing tension spring134, having its ends fastened respectively to the tang 139 of the ring126 and one end of the slot 138, serves to separate the tang from theslot end. This action tends to engage the cam surfaces 124 and 128 in aninterfering manner and, assuming the upper pulsator arm 110 is fixed,the upper bearing ring 126 will be forced downwardly into engagementwith the ball 162. Since the ball is cradled in the lower bearing ring146, the entire sandwich or socket will tend to be under increasedpressure, thereby eliminating play between the ball 162 and itsjuxtaposed ring elements 126 and 146. Thus during agitate the ball 162will be held snugly and noise will be minimized.

Turning now to FIGURE 5 the operation of the variable grip ball socketwill best be understood as it pertains to the spinning portion of thewash cycle. Identical parts carry the same reference numerals and it canbe seen that as the ball 162 rotates during spin (see arrows), the balldrags on the upper bearing ring 126 and acts counter to the bias of thespring 134. This bias tends to disengage and separate the cam surfaces124 and 128, thereby permitting the upper bearing ring 126 to moveupwardly away from the ball 162 relative to the fixed lower ring 146 inwhich the ball is cradled. This release of the camming action tends todecrease the pressure on the ball 162. The pulsate shaft 62 is then freeto rotate easily with the spin shaft 64 to which it is connected throughthe bellows.

It should now be seen that an improved agitate and spin mechanism hasbeen provided wherein a ball socket connects the rocking end of apulsator assembly to the agitate shaft, said socket being adapted inresponse to direction of mechanism rotation to firm the pressure on thesocket during agitate and to release the pressure during spin.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosedconstitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination with an agitator and a spin tub, means for moving saidagitator and rotating said tub, said means comprising a stationarysupport housing and a motor supported by said support housing, anagitate shaft connected to said agitator at the top thereof and having ayieldable portion at the bottom thereof, a spin shaft concentric withsaid agitate shaft and connected to said spin tub, a bellows having oneend fastened to said agitate shaft and another end fastened to said spinshaft, said bellows being concentric with said shafts, an agitate drumrotata'bly supported on said support housing and having an angularlydirected crank means, a spin drum carried on said spin shaft, a pulsatorarm assembly having a rocking end universally movably connected to saidyieldable portion and a crank end relatively rotatably connected to saidcrank means, said pulsator arm assembly having upper and lowerjuxtaposed arm portions, a first hearing at said crank end and a secondbearing at said rocking end, said first bearing having an axisperpendicular to said arrn portions, a first cam on said upper armadjacent said second bearing, said second bearing including a sphericalball connected to said yieldable portion, a lower ball support ringattached to said lower arm portion for bearingly retaining said ball onone side thereof, an upper ball support ring in juxtaposition to saidlower ball support ring for bearingly retaining said ball on the otherside thereof, said upper ball support ring interposed between said upperarm portion and said ball and having a second cam portion adjacent saidfirst cam portion, a bearing tension spring having one end connected tosaid upper arm portion and its other end connected to said upper ballsupport ring and adapted to bias said first and second cam portions intoengagement to force said upper ball support ring into tighter engagementwith said ball when said agitate drum is rotated, said motor adapted tooperate in a first direction for rotating said agitate drum and in asecond direction for rotating said spin drum, said agitate drum rotatingsaid crank end to cause said rocking end to move through an arc whichfiexes said yieldable portion when said motor is adapted for operatingin said first direction, said spin drum driving said spin shaft and saidagitate shaft through said bellows when said motor is adapted foroperating in said second direction, said driving of said agitate shaftcounteracting the bias of said bearing tension spring to disengage saidfirst and second cam portions and free said ball for movement with saidagitate shaft.

2. In combination with an agitate shaft and a spin shaft in concentricrelationship with each other and yieldably keyed together, means forreciprocating said agitate shaft and rotating said spin shaft, saidmeans comprising a stationary support housing and a reversible motorsupported by said support housing, an agitate drum rotatably supportedon said support housing in driven relationship to said motor'when saidmotor is operating in a first direction and having an angularly directedcrank means, a spin drum carried in spaced relationship to said agitatedrum and concentrically on said spin shaft in driven relationship tosaid motor when said motor is operating in a second direction, apulsator arm assembly having a rocking end and a crank end relativelyrotatably connected to said crank means, said pulsator arm assemblyhaving upper and lower juxtaposed arm portions, a first bearing at saidcrank end and a second hearing at said rocking end, said first bearinghaving an axis perpendicular to said arm portions, a first cam on saidupper arm portion adjacent said second bearing, said second bearingincluding a spherical ball connecting said rocking end to said agitateshaft, a lower ball support ring attached to said lower arm portion forbearingly retaining said ball on one side thereof, an upper ball supportring in juxtaposition to said lower ball support ring for bearinglyretaining said ball on the other side thereof in sandwichedrelationship, said upper ball support ring interposed in relativelyrotatable relationship between said upper arm portion and said ball andhaving a second cam portion adjacent said first cam portion, a bearingtension spring having one end connected to said upper arm portion andits other end connected to said upper ball support ring and adapted tobias said first and second cam portions relatively rotatably intoengagement to force said upper ball support ring away from said upperarm portion and into tighter engagement with said ball when said agitatedrum is driven, said ball rotatably relatively slidably engaging saidupper ball support ring in a manner to counteract the bias of saidbearing tension spring and disengage said first and second ca-m portionsto free said ball for rotation with said agitate shaft when said spindrum is driven.

3. In combination with an agitate shaft and a spin shaft in concentricrelationship with each other and keyed together, means for reciprocatingsaid agitate shaft and rotating said spin shaft, said means comprising astationary support housing and a motor supponted by said supporthousing, an agitate drum rotatably supported on said support housing indriven relationship to said motor when said motor is operating in afirst manner and having an angularly directed crank means, a spin drumcarried in spaced relationship to said agitate drum and concentricallyon said spin shaft in driven relationship to said motor when said motoris operating in a second manner, a pu'lsator arm assembly having arocking end and a crank end relatively rotatably connected to said crankmeans, said pulsator arm assembly having first and second juxtaposed armportions, a first hearing at said crank end and a second hearing at saidrocking end, said first bearing having an axis perpendicular to said armportions, a first cam on said first arm portion adjacent said secondbearing, said second bearing including a spherical ball connecting saidrocking end to said agitate shaft, a first ball support ring attached tosaid second arm portion for beaningly retaining said ball on one sidethereof, a second ball support ring in juxtaposition to said first ballsupport ring for 'bearingly retaining said 'ball on the other sidethereof in sandwiched relationship, said second ball support ringinterposed in relatively rotatable relationship between said first armportion and said ball and having a second cam portion adjacent saidfirst cam portion, a bearing tension spring having one end connected tosaid first arm portion and its other end connected to said second ballsupport ring and adapted to bias said first and second cam portionsrelatively ro-tatably into engagement to force said second ball supportring away from said first arm portion and into tighter engagement withsaid ball when said agitate drum is driven, said ball engaging saidsecond ball support ring in a manner to counteract frictionally the biasof said bearing tension spring and disengage said first and second camportions to free said ball for rotation with said agitate shaft whensaid spin drum is driven.

4. In combination with a first shaft and a second shaft in concentricrelationship with each other and connected together, means forreciprocating said first shaft relative to said second shaft and forrotating said first and second shafts, said means comprising astationary support housing and a prime mover supported by said supponthousing, a first drum rotatably supported in fixed relationship relativeto said support housing in driven relationship to said prime mover whensaid prime mover is operating in a first manner and having an angularlydirected crank means, a second drum carried in spaced relationship tosaid first drum and concentrically on said second shaft in drivenrelationship to said prime mover when said prime mover is operating in asecond manner, a pulsator arm assembly having a rocking end and a crankend relatively rotatably connected to said crank means, said pulsatorarm assembly having an arm portion, a first hearing at said crank endand a second bearing at said rocking end, said first bearing having anaxis perpendicular to said arm portion, a first cam on said arm portionadjacent said second bearing, said second bearing including a sphericalball connecting said rocking end to said first shaft, a first ballsupport ring fixed relative to said arm portion for bearingly retainingsaid ball on one side thereof, a second b-all support ring injuxtaposition to said first ball support ring for bearingly retainingsaid 7 ball on the other side thereof in sandwiched relationship, saidsecond ball support ring interposed in relatively rotatable relationshipbetween said arm portion and said ball and having a second cam portionadjacent said first cam portion, a bearing tension spring having one endconnected to said arm portion and its other end connected to said secondball support ring and adapted to bias said first and second cam portionsrelatively rotatably into engagement to force said second ball supportring away from said arm portion and into tighter engagement said ballwhen said first drum is driven, said ball engaging said second ballsupport ring in a manner to counteract the bias of said bearing tensionspring and disengage said first and second cam portions to free saidball for rotation with said first shaft when said second drum is driven.

5. A prime moving system for a clothes washer having a verticallyreciprocable agitator shaft and comprising an agitate drum rotatableabout a fixed axis parallel to the axis of said agitator shaft andhaving a crank port-ion with "an axis at an angle to the axis of saiddrum, means for rotating said agitate drum, a pulsator arm assembly fortranslating the rotation of said agitate drum into the reciprocation ofsaid agitator shaft, said pulsator arm as sembly having upper and lowerjuxtaposed arm portions and first and second bearings at opposite endsof said arm portions, said first bearing having an axis perpendicular tosaid arm portions whereby said second bearing moves through an are whichintersects the axis of said agitator shaft when said agitate drum isrotated and said arm portions are prevented from rotating, a first camportion on said upper arm portion adjacent said second bearing, saidsecond bearing including a spherical ball, a lower bail support ringattached to said lower arm portion for bearingly retaining said ball onone side thereof, an upper ball support ring in juxtaposition to saidlower ball support ring for bearingly retaining said ball on the otherside thereof, said upper ball support ring interposed between said upperarm portion and said ball and having a second cam portion adjacent saidfirst cam portion, a bearing tension spring having one end connected tosaid upper arm portion and its other end connected to said upper ballsupport ring and adapted to bias said first and second cam portions intoengagement to force said upper ball support ring into tighter engagementwith said ball when said agitate drum is rotated, and a yieldable springshaft connecting said spherical ball to said agitate shaft forcompensating for said 'arcuate movement of said second bearing.

6. A prime moving system for an appliance having a reciprocable shaftand comprising a drive drum rotatable about a fixed axis parallel to theaxis of said shaft and having a crank portion with an axis at an angleto the axis of said drum, means for rotating said drum, n reciprocatorarm assembly for translating the rotation of said drum into thereciprocation of said shaft, said reciprocator arm assembly having anarm portion and first and second bearings at opposite ends of said armportion, said first bearing having an axis perpendicular to said armportion whereby said second bearing moves through an are whichintersects the axis of said shaft when said drum is rotated and said armportion is prevented from rotating, a first cam portion on said armportion adjacent said second bear-ing, said second bearing including aspherical ball,

"a first ball support ring in fixed relationship to said arm portion forbearingly retaining said ball on one side thereof, a second ball supportring in juxtaposition to said first ball support ring for bearinglyretaining said ball on the other side thereof, said second ball supportring interposed between said arm portion and said ball and having asecond c am portion adjacent said first cam portion, a bearing tensionspring having one end connected to said second arm portion and its otherend connected to said second ball support ring and adapted to bias saidfirst and second cam portions into engagement to force said second ballsupport ring into tighter engagement with said ball when said drum isrotated, and a yieldable member connecting'said spherical ball to saidshaft for compensating for said arcuate movement of said second bearing.

7. A variable grip ball socket comprising a ball alternately subjectedto first and second movements, a bearing for engaging said ball duringsaid movements and having a first cam, a support for retaining saidbearing in engagement with said ball and having a second cam, and meansconnected between said support and said bearing for biasing said firstcam into engagement with said second cam for moving said bearing intotighter engagement with said ball when said ball is subjected to saidfirst movement, said ball when subjected to said second movementfrictionally engaging said bearing to counter-act the bias of saidbiasing means for disengaging said first and second cams.

S. A variable grip ball socket comprising upper and lower juxtaposed armportions and a hearing at one end of said arm portions, 2. first cam"portion on said upper arm portion adjacent said bearing, said bearingincluding a sperical ball subjected to first and second movements, alower ball support ring attached to said lower arm portion for bearinglyretaining said ball on one side thereof, an upper ball support ring injuxtaposition to said lower ball support ring for bearingly retainingsaid ball on the other side thereof, said upper ball support ringinterposed between said upper arm portion and said 'ball and having asecond cam portion directed oppositely to said first cam portion andrelatively rotatable thereto, a bearing tension spring having one endconnected to said upper arm portion and its other end connected to saidupper ball support ring and adapted to rotate said first cam portioninto engagement with said second cam portion to force said upper ballsupport ring into tighter engagement with said ball when said ball issubjected to said first movement, said ball when subjected to saidsecond movement frictionally engaging said upper ball support ring inthe direction of said second movement to counteract the bias of saidspring for disengaging said first and second cams.

9. A variable grip ball socket comprising a ball alternately subjectedto first and second movements, means for engaging said ball during saidmovements including a bearing means and a first cam means fixed formovement with said bearing means, means for retaining said bearing meansin engagement with said call including a sup port means and a second cammeans fixed relative to said support means, and means connected betweensaid support means and said first cam means for biasing said first cammeans into engagement with said second cam means for moving said bearingmeans into tighter engagement with said ball when said ball is subjectedto said first movement, said ball when subjected to said second movementfrictionally engaging said bearing means to counteract the bias of saidbiasing means for disengaging said first and second cam means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,821,877 Bawne Sept. 1, 1931 2,167,174 Flumerfelt July 25, 19392,758,685 Sisson Aug. 14, 1956

9. A VARIABLE GRIP BALL SOCKET COMPRISING A BALL ALTERNATELY SUBJECTEDTO FIRST AND SECOND MOVEMENTS, MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID BALL DURING SAIDMOVEMENTS INCLUDING A BEARING MEANS AND A FIRST CAM MEANS FIXED FORMOVEMENT WITH SAID BEARING MEANS, MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID BEARING MEANSIN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BALL INCLUDING A SUPPORT MEANS AND A SECOND CAMMEANS FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND MEANS CONNECTED BETWEENSAID SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID FIRST CAM MEANS FO BIASING SAID FIRST CAMMEANS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND CAM MEANS FOR MOVING SAID BEARINGMEANS INTO TIGHTER ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BALL WHEN SAID BALL IS SUBJECTEDTO SAID FIRST MOVEMENT, SAID BALL WHEN SUBJECTED TO SAID SECOND MOVEMENTFRICTIONALLY ENGAGING SAID BEARING MEANS COUNTERACT THE BIAS OF SAIDBIASING MEANS FOR DISENGAGING SAID FIRST AND SECOND CAM MEANS.